Amusement apparatus



May 26, 192s. 1,539,648

E. F. CHESTER ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Deo. 7, 1922 s sheets-sheet 1 F. z Y :w V/ f/f//f EF C). .22?. @beste-rf /Mxw 20m/4% .A TTOR/VEYS May 26, 1925.

E. F. CHESTER ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 3 SheetsrSheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1922 IN VEA/TUI? E. F1." CheSe/T' W/TNESSES CL. Chester* A TOHNE Y 8 May 26, 1925.

E. F. CHESTER ET Al.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Deo. 7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet /1 TTORIVE YS Patented May 26, 1925. p UNITED `STATES A 1,539,648 PATENT oFFlclI-z.

ERNEST F. cnEsTER AND CHARLES r. CHESTER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

AHUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Application led December 7, 1922. Serial N'o. 605,406.,

To all lwhom it may cof/wem.'

,Be` it known that we, ERNEST F. CHESTER and `CHARLns P. Cnns'rnmboth citizens of thev United States, and residing at the city of New York, borou h-of Manhattan, in the county of New ork and State of. New York, have-invented'a new and Improved Amusement Apparatus, of which' the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an amusement apparatus and its object is to providev a new and improved game, preferably a multi-contestant game, for use in pleasure resorts, exhibition grounds, fairs, parks and other places, and arranged to enable a number of contestants or players to participate in a speed contest of marksmanship.

Another 'object is to permit a number of contestants to discharge-missiles-at various rates of speed at a plurality of distant target winner. p

Another object is to render the chances of success equal to all contestants; and preferably in that' connection to provide an amusement apparatus whereby the same number of missiles may be thrownby each contestant during a'predetermined time interval which .is thezsame for all contestants.

Another obj ect is to' provide yan amusement apparatus such that all missiles thrown by all contestants will eventually be directed toward a master'reservoir adapted in turn automatically to replenish the separate reservoirs individual toy the missile-projecting means allotted to each contestant.

Another object is to associate with each missile-projecting means fixed guiding surfaces in each, with all such guiding surfaces relatively immovable, so that each projecting means is adapted to discharge its mis- Siles toward the particular target means allotted to that projecting means.4

Another object is preferably to construct'y each such target means as a receptor for a plurality of missiles, in combination with means for releasing such missiles and signalf ling the fact of such release, when the missiles received by any target means total a predetermined plurality.'

Another object is to construct an amusement apparatus which is highly attractive in its various features and provides an 'interestng show for the participants as well as for the onlookers.

In the latter regard, a more specificobject Aobject of play of suc chanica mannikin's, eac

located, presenting an appearance, and having a limb manually actuable as an.4 always exposed missileejecting instrumentality, characteristic of a well-known athletic contest, auch asthe' game of football, and a' plurality of target means,

jfacing such mannikins at some distancetherefrom and designed' inl simulation of goal posts or goal baskets for receiving or more missiles suggesting the projectilei contest, as a football. With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certam novel features l of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims. means to contest for a prlze awarded tothe line 1-1 of Fig. 3, and showingthedfarget4 means in front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

. Fig. -3 is a longitudinal section, taken through yone of the target means and its appropriate missile-projecting means;

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged detail view, showing certain of the parts of Fig. S/at a target means;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showingl certain of the parts of Fig. 3 at a projection means;

Fig. 6 is a, fragmentary view,.showing in top plan certain of the missile feeding and guidingv means shown in F-ig.I 5 insection and in side elevation;

Fig. 7 is a view generally similar to Fig. 5, but showing amodification; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view, partially in elevation and partially. in section, showing a structural variation of the preferred missileejectin member and its mount.

.Simi ar reference characters refer to similar parts through the several views of the drawings.

A line of targets S are served by a similar line of proiecting means 9. It will be noted, most clearly from Fig. 1, that each target means 8 resembles in appearance one of the goals of a football field, while, as seen best 1n Fig. 3, each projection means is a mannikin apparently dressed in football uniform.

Each such mannikin is allotted to one ot' the targets 8; and referring now-momentarily to Fig. 5, the ejector proper forv each missile 10, supplied from a suitable -store thereof, for the mannikin 9, is a foot 11 at the end of a swingable leg member 12 dou:

y bly pivoted at 13 and 14.

. parts are provided in association with each mannikin and within a compartment 15 below a floor 16`on which the mannikin is xed upright by means of its rigid leg 17. Slidably mounted in underlying guide lblocks 18, is a vertical plate 19 'having an S-shaped upwardlyextending fixed arm 20 pivoted to foot 11 at 21. This plate, normally held inv the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of va spring 22, has ay horizontal line of ratchetteeth on an upper edge of the plate as indi-1,:

catedv at ,23. An upright handle 24, pivotally mounted at its lower-end at 25, carries a rockable claw-rod 26 pivoted on the handle at 27. This rod 26 has at its forward en d a hook 28 and at its rear endv a roller 29. This roller is provided for riding.

against a ramp device 30, 'thereby to rock the rod 26 upward from a bottom stop 31 on the handle, when the handle is moved i slightly further to theright in Fig. 5 than there illustrated. v Once the parts 32 and 33 vare released. as will be understood in a moment. it will be seen that a throw of the handle 24 to the left throwsv the hook l28 in that direction to thev right over the backs of 'teeth 23, and that the subsequent retraction of the handle to the right slides the plate 19 to retract the foot 11 of themannikin as indicated by the arrow 34. It will also Abe the spring 22 snaps the plate 19 back to the' illustrated position and swings-foot 11 forT ward toward the missile at the location 10. When the vmissile is thus impacted or kicked to be shot toward the dleft of Fig. 5, the

missile is caused to rise upward. due-to the presence of a hummock 35;, and the direction of vlight'given the missile is toward the target 8 allotted to thisv mannikin, due

to a pair of guide-rails 36.'

Such hummock and guide-rails, it will be seen, constitute fixed surfaces for guiding the exposed missile to describe a high iy to clear a fence 37 (Figs. 2and 3) andad Vance toward the proper target. It will also be noted that the projection means proper for such exposed lnissile is a visibly operating, or exposed, ejecting instrumentality for the missile, the foot 11.

A handle 24 and appurtenant parts as just described, are of course associate-dwith the mannikin of each projection means, andl` consequently such handle 24 is seen in Fig. 2 in its slot alongside each mannikin. It will be understood that all the individual 'contestants play the game. simultaneously, -each operating one of the handles 24; andv each endeavoring to operate the handle at the maximum rate of speed permissible to kick out the greatest number of missiles ina given interval of time, and yet without pumping the handle. 24 back and forth so' rapidly as to defeat the guiding functions of the hummock 35, the guide-rails 36, andi particularly the predetermined straight-line thrusts of the kicking foot of the mannikin.

In order to provide means to prevent, any contestant from starting to pump his handle .24 before another contestant, the following parts are provided, to wit, the parts 32 and33 above passingly referred to. The part 32 represents a hooked collar, one of which is'fiaedl on each handle 24 at about the point indicated in Fig. 5. These collars 32 are arranged in horizontal alignment Vtransverse to the apparatus. The part- 33 is a transverse bar extending across the ent-ire width of the apparatus and having "at opposite ends an offset arm as indicated at 37 in Fig. 5: these two arms 'being pivotedon a single horizontal axis as indicated at 38 in Fig. 5 in the case of the arm l37 shown there.4 Fixed-to the latter arm is a handle 39 adapted to be thrown to the left of Fig. 5, bv -an attendant` simultaneously to release all the handlesm24. If desired. the parts just described mavbe employed to lock all the' handles 24,'when, upon the occurrence ofla suitable-signal. the contestants cease actuatins! theihan-dles 24.

Still referring primarily to Fig. 5, the following parts are provided in order to feed a new missile to each mannikin just before the foot 1.1 thereof -is given a forward kicking motion by a forward pumping stroke of the associated handle 24. /Below each mannikin, in compartment 15, is what may be 'termed a T-shaped well or individual reservoir' for a store ofmissiles 10. It will be noted that thehead of the T is a verticaljtube 40 having a movabl'ebottomconstituted by; a plunger 41. The stem of the T is an inclined, gravit -feed tube 42\for holding a plurality of t e missiles .in tandem relation. Thus, with 'the plunger 41 as shown, the `forward one of the missiles in the inclined line of the tube 42, lies in the tube 40 and centers itself in the upper downwardly dished surface of the plunger. This plunger has a depending centrally reduced stem 43 carrying a roller 44 at its lower end. lhen handle 24 is pumped forward or to the left of Fig. 5 to engage hook 28 with the breast of a ratchet tooth 23`toward the left-hand of the line of such teeth, thereby to actuate the foot 11 of the mannikin to kick out the missile then at vthe location 10', and said handle is thereupon pulled back to retract said foot 11, the ramped edge 45 of plate 19 coacts with roller 44 to give plunger 41 a full upstroke and thus elevate the missile overlying the top of the plunger to the location 10. At the next forward pumping action of handle 24 foot 11v kicks out this second missile at the location 10; plunger 41 meanwhile descending to receive the leaderl of the missiles 10 in inclined tube 42.

In order to provide means for holding a missile elevated as just described` at the location 10, despite the descent of the plunger 41 during the forward swing of the mannikins foot toward such elevated missile, a pair of pivoted latches are provided as indicated at 46; these latches being gravityheld to the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In order to keep the individua-1 reservoirs of each projection means supplied continuously with a plurality of missiles 10, it will be seen, by comparing Figs. 2 and 3, that each inclined tube 42 is a branch conduit leading from a main 'transverse conduit 47, in turn fed by a pair of inclinedconduits .48 at opposite sides" of the apparatus. These side conduits 48, as shown best from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 3, are fed from a missile-receiving compartment 49 extending` across the width of the apparatus and below the line of targets 8 behind a far fence 50. It will be noted that the floor of compartment 49 is highest at its center and inclined downwardly in opposite directions toward the side conduits 48. The collection of parts just described may be called the master reservoir for the individual reservoirs of the various projecting means.

Of course, all the thrown missiles which miss the targets 8 are received beyond the fence 50 and enter the master reservoir.v

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that each target means is a receptor for the missiles, and has a central opening 51 corresponding to the space between goal posts or a goal basket. Associated with each opening'l are means for detainin inside each target all the missiles receive by the same, until a predetermined plurality of missiles is so received, and for automatically thereupon releasing all the receive'd missiles and simultaneously giving a signal of the fact that such missiles are released and consequently that the contestant allotted to that target has won the contest, by being the first to project into his allotted target the predetermined plurality of missiles during the course of the contest just concluded. The means for attaining these ends include the following parts. Opening 51 continues as a vertical tubular pocket 52. the lower end of which is normally closed by means of an arm 53 of a lever pivoted at 54 and nor,` mally over-weighted by a rearwardly extending arm 55 so as to close the bottom of pocket 52. The design of these parts is such that the weight of the predetermined plurality of missiles, say three as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4, is just enough to rock the lever to the broken line position shown. The moment the lever is thus rocked, the missiles in the compartment are discharged into the main reservoir, and simultaneously a nor,- mally open circuit 56, served by a battery 57, is closed at a contact 58 and a visible electric bulb 59 is lighted.

The lighting of such bulb 59 lof course indicates the winner of the contest.

At the conclusion of a particular contest. a suitable master-switch (not shown) for closing a circuit (not shown) to actuate iudividual electro-magnets (not shown) for the arms 24 of all the levers of the targets 8, may be manually closed to add such missiles as have not been delivered to the pockets of such targets during the contest just concluded, to the mainl reservoir. Or, all such levers may be manually rocked in any suitable way by the attendant to collect the missiles from all the compartments.` At that time, also, the attendant may collect up all the missiles on the inclined floor marked G0 in Fig. 3, which have collected there as the result of reboundin from the faces of the targets 8 surrounding their central openings; and these missiles may be thrown into compartment 49 and so added to the missiles of the main reservoir. It will be understood that preferably a large surplus of missiles. in practice about three hundred, will always be su plied so that 'there will be no lack of tion means.

In Fig. 7 is indicated a possible modification of the parts associated with each mannikin 9 as in 5. In Fig. 7 an upright handle 24 .is used, pivoted at 25a inthe bottom ofcompartment 15. The parts 18,l 22, 43 and 44 are similar in function to the same parts in Fig. 5. The plate 19 is the same as plate 19 of Fig. 5, except that the ratchet teeth 23 and the arm 20 are omitted. It is also desirable in the case of the plate 19l to provide an auxiliary guide block 61. Handle 24a is direct connected to the kicking foot of the mannikin, as by a pivot stud 62, and is permanently operably connected to plate 19 as by a fixed post63 upstanding missi es in the tube 42 feeding each projecfrom the latter and a link 64 joining the top of the post and the handle. This is a simplified construction, and one whereby the contestant may rely upon lhis own muscular power to impart the forward kicking movement to foot 11.

Two other important features of the invention will now be described, one or both of which may desirably be incorporated in the newl combination.

Referring t-o the first of such additional features, examine Fig. 5. It has been hereinabove pointed out, in the paragraph beginning 1n the middle of page 2 and with L3 reference to handle 24, that each contestant will naturally endeavor to operate his handle 24 at the maximum rate of speed permissible to kick out the greatest number of missiles in a given interval of time, and yet without pumping the handle back and forth so rapidly as to defeat or impair theguiding functions of hummock 35 and guide rails 36 of the missile-aiming means. In this connection, further, we have discovered that if the rockable claw-rod or lever 26 as viewed in Fig.. 5 be roperly overweighted to the right of its pivot 27, as by a proper extra weight 26 if necessary, any pumping of handle 24 toward its mannikin at too rapid a speed, will cause hook 28 to engage the back of the first contacted ratchet teeth 23 at such a pressure or velocity as to kick the hook high enough above said teeth to preclude whole or partial retraction of plate 19 with lever 26 on a retraction of handle 24.

Referrin inally,to the second of such additional eatures, compare Fig. 8 with the corresponding parts of Figs. 5 and 7. It will be noted that the kickin foot of Fig. 8, marked 11, is not rigidy carried at the ankle of the kicking limb 12 of the mannikin, but instead is mounted in such a way as to be rather freely wabblable on the lower end `oi said limb, it the limb is too rapidly moved, by a too rapid movement of the associated handle 24, toward'a missile. Thus, this feature of construction has a purpose somewhat akin to the purpose of the feature described in the paragraph immediately preceding. To these ends, the upper portion of the foot 11 is recessed as illustrated to provide a loose socket for the lower ballend of the limb 12, and foot and limb are further pivotally connected by a cross-pin 11b loose in both foot and limb, also as illustrated. It will be understod that if the handle 24 is worked at a permissible speed, that is, not too rapidly to set up a slde sway of the kickinglimb or relative movements between the jointed parts of said limb and the foot due to vibration, gravity will hold the foot in pro er kicking position on the limb to allow 51e hummock 35 and guide rails 36 to perform their appointed functions; but not otherwise.

We will state in conclusion. that while the illustrated example constitutes apractical embodiment of our invention, the same is merely yan example of one of the multitude of Ways in which the same may be carried out, and we do not limit ourselves strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lVe claim:

1. In a multi-contestant game, the combination of target means, a pluralityl of separately operable missile-projecting means each including a manual actuator, normally ineffective locking means for each projecting means, and means manually operable at will to render all said locking means simultaneously effective.

2. In a multi-contestant game, the combination of target means, a plurality of separately operable missile-projecting means each including a manual actuator, each such actuator being normally operable independent of the operationof any other actuator, a locking devlce for each actuator, and means common to the locking devices for rendering all said devices effective or ineffective simultaneously.

3. In a game, the combination of a target means, means for projecting a missile toward said target, positioning means for the missile at the instant of projection, and an actuating means operatively connected to the projecting and positioning means, saidpositioning means including a fixed structure formed with a recess and including a movable structure carrying a missile supportin wall constituting one of the Walls of sai recess. v

4. In a game, the combination of a target means, means for projecting a missile vtoward said target, positioning means for the missile at the instant of projection, and an actuating means operatively connected to the projecting and positioning means, said positioning means including fixed structures adapted to engage the sides of the missile atlthe instant of projection to a'ect the direction of flight thereof.

5. In a game, the combination of a target means, means for projecting a missile toward said target, positioning means for the missile at the instant of rojection, and an actuating means operative y connected to the projecting and positioning means, said 'positioning means including a structure for engaging the under side of the missile to affect the direction of flight thereof.

6. In a game, the combination of a target means, a projecting means operable for discharging a plurality of missiles toward said tar et means, a manual actuator for said projecting means, a reciprocating means also las;

operated by said actuator for feeding a missile 'to the field of operation of the projecting means at each o eration of the actuator and near the end o a stroke of said reciprocatin means in one-direction, and means for Ifee ing a missile to said reciprocating means after the end of'a stroke of the latter in the' oppositeA direction.

7. In a game',the combination of a target means operable-for discharging a plurality of missiles toward lsaid target means, a

manual actuator for said ,projecting means, means for feeding missiles to the projecting means, said feeding means including a struclture having a substantiallyv vertical bore projecting means including a swingable mis-l A sile projector `member, means for feeding missiles into the field of swing of said pro-- jector member and including 'a vertically reciprocable member, a manually movable actuator, and operative connections between said actuator and said two members andfor causing movements of the two members to have movements toward yeach other on a movement of the actuator, the two members j being mounted and guided formovements such that the path of movement of the reciprocable member is substantially normal to the arc of movement of the swingable member.

9. In a game the combination of la missile, projecting means including a movable missile supporting means, a striker memberv for 'varying lthe relations of the movementsv of said members in accordance with the amplitude of movement of the actuator.

10. In a multi-contestant game, the combination of a plurality of spaced `tar t means, a. collecting structure for missies projected toward lthe target means, a plurality of spaced means for projecting missiles toward said. target means, a reservoir v for a .plurality-of missiles associated with e'ach projecting'means, means for automati-l bination of a plurality of spaced target cally feeding a missile to. each projecting means from its associated reservoir on actuation of said projecting means, a master reservoir, and means for replenishing all the target reservoirs from said master reservoir. A

11. In a multi-contestant game, the combination of a plurality of spaced target means, a plurality of spaced means for projecting missiles toward said target means, normally inoperative signalling means associatedwith each of the target means, and controlling means for each signalling means and disposed/for. impingement by missiles and for automatically rendering operative said signallin means when said controlling' meansis impinged by a certain prede termined plurality of missiles but for maintaining said signalling means inoperative until said controlling means has been impinged by said plurality of missiles following the setting of signalling means to inoperative. condition, therebeing provided manual means for setting the signalin meansv to inoperative condition after' eac 4operation of said vsignaling means.

12. -The game defined inclaim 11, wherein the .controlling means has associated therewith a normally operativeI detent for received missiles, said detent including a gravity-responsive releasing means for said de*v ent actuated upon the. reception of said plurality of missiles. i

13. In a multi-contestant game, the commo means each constituting a receptor for a plurality of missiles, a plurality of s aced means for projecting missiles towar' said target means, a missile support movably associated with eachv target means and including a gravity-responsive element for discharging ,all the sup orted missiles when and only when a redbtermined plurality thereof is supporte` and signalling means associated with each' target means for indicating when such supported missiles are so discharged.

14. In a multi-contestant game, the combination of a plurality of spaced target voir on each. actuation 'of said 'projecting' means, a master reservoir, and means for replenishing all the target reservoirs from said master reservoir.

' 15. The game defined in claim 14, wherein means are provided for supplying4 said master reservoir with missiles receivedsby all the target means. A 130 16. In a game, the combination of target means, a missile-projecting means including a plurality of relatively movable arts, a manual actuator for operating one o said parts relative to the other, and a support for a missile at thel instant of projection, said support being immovable relative to the tar et vmeans and the projecting means and inc uding missile-guiding surfaces, said actuator being operable at dlferent speeds at will, said parts-being loosely connected and held by gravity to certain relative movements when said actuatorv is operated at a certain speed, whereby whensaid actuator is operated at a greater speed said parts will have different relative movements thereby to impair the etlicacy of such surfaces.

17. The game defined in claim 14, wherein means are provided for supplying said master .reservoir with missiles received by all the target means, eachy target .meansl having -associated therewith a normally operative detent for received missiles, said detent including a gravity-responsive releasing means therefor actuated upon the reception of a predetermined plurality of missiles by said detent. v

18. The game defined in claim 14, wherein means are provided for supplying said master reservoir with missiles received by all the target means each target means hav-- ing associated therewith a normally operative detent actuated upon the reception of a redetermined plurality of missiles, there ing provided individual locking elements for each projecting means, a locking device adapted to coact with all said locking elements to lock all the projecting means simultaneously, and means for disengaging said lockin device from all said locking elements simu taneously.

19, In a game to be played by casting missiles `at a target, a target structure defining a goal area and including an opening within said area, a movably mounted missile-receiving support in rear of said opening, a signal means, and means to actuate said signal means upon a predetermined movement of said support, said support havinga missile-receiving and c letent portion so shaped and disposed relativey to the movable mounting of said support that the support' remains immovable and retains less than a redetermined plurality of missiles received thereby but is given said predetermined movement upon said portion receiving and retaining the complete plurality of missiles predetermined. y

I- 20. A game ofskill to be playedby projecting a plurality of missilesin Irapid succession at asdistant target, said game 1ncluding means for projecting missiles at saidy target, means for returningv previously pro# jected missiles-to the vicinity of the project- F ing means, means for actuating the project;

ing means, means for transferring one of the missiles last-mentioned to the vfield of operation of the projecting meansp a variablespeed manua controller for the projecting means, and lmeans operable by said controller to actuate the feeding means in timed relation to the operation of .the lprojecting means' but only when said controller is moved at a speed above a predetermined maximum. l l

21. In ay game of skill including a pro.- jectile and to be played in simulation of the kicking features of an actual football game, the combination of a target representant of a goal point,.a mannikin including a relatively movable kickin'g limb, means for actuating said limb to cause the same to retract and to move forward to kick a missile presented at a point between mannikin and target, said means including a. spring urging said limb toward a kic ting movement,

and means for feeding missiles to said point between kicks, said means including a vertically reciprocatingplunger, a chute shaped to`hold a plurality of missiles'in column,

said chute having a movable bottom wall constituted by the vtop of thev plunger, and

means for automatica y retracting the limb f against said spring, for elevating' tlie plunger and for releasing thelimb.to tlie action of the spring during the course of such reciprocation ofthe'plungier.

22. A game of skill-to-be played by projecting a.' pluralityv of missiles atl a` target, said game including means for projecting missiles at said target, a reservoirfor missiles in the vicinity of the projecting means,

.means for actuating the projecting means, means for transferring one lof the missiles last-mentioned to the field of operation of the rejecting means, a manual controller for t e projecting means and for the trans,- ferring means, and means operablefautomatically oi actuating the controller at a certain speed` thereby to render, for that actuation, said transferring 'means inoperative.

23. A game ofskill to be played by projecting a plurality of missiles at a target, said game includingmeans for projecting missiles at said target, a reservoir for -missilos in the vicinity of the projecting means,

means for actuating the .projecting means,` means for transferring one of tlie missiles last-mentioned to tlie field of operation of the projectingl means,- a '-manual controller for the projecting means and for the transprojecting means both inoperative on certain actuations of said controller. ERNEST F. CHESTER.

CHARLES P. CHESTER.

izs 

